PH Consulate General in Los Angeles Sends Off Over 700 Filipino Seafarers

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles sends off Filipino seafarersin various batches. (Los Angeles PCG photo)

LOS ANGELES 08 April 2020 – Committed to ensure the safety of Filipinos overseas, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, led by Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, assisted and sent off 751 Filipino cruise ship crewmembers employed by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (NCLH) in five separate batches on 07 and 08 April 2020.

These Filipino seafarers disembarked from the company’s three cruise ships docked at the Port of Los Angeles, namely, the M/S Norwegian Joy, M/S Regent Seven Seas Splendor and M/S Norwegian Jewel after completing their 14-day mandatory quarantine onboard without exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms.

During the sendoff, Consul General Cruz and Deputy Consul General Ambrosio Brian F. Enciso III briefed the various batches of Filipino crew on Philippine Government quarantine protocols. The Consulate General also distributed flyers containing said quarantine guidelines, as well as contact details of relevant government agencies.

Labor Attaché Armi Evangel N. Peña reminded each batch of repatriates of their rights as OFWs and the services that the Philippine government could give them.

The flights out of the Los Angeles International Airport were arranged and provided for by NCLH.

Also joining the Consul General were Assistance to Nationals Officer Judelyn M. Cuaresma, Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Los Angeles Admin Officer Miguel Ignacio Maria S. Castriciones, and Police Attaché in the West Coast Romulo Diaz, Jr.

This massive repatriation effort was made possible through the hard work and dedication of the Philippine Foreign Service led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., U.S.A. to secure the welfare and health of our kababayans.  END

Labor Attaché Armi Evangel N. Peña (second from right) speaks with seafarers

For more information, visit https://www.philippineconsulatela.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinLA/.